INSPIRED CRAFTSMANSHIP
CELEBRATED CARPET MANUFACTURER, TAI PING, CONTINUES ITS TRADITION OF EXQUISITE CRAFTSMANSHIP TO CARRY ITS CULTURAL LEGACY INTO THE PRESENT
In 1956, a group of seven prominent entrepreneurs — including Lawrence and Horace Kadoorie of the illustrious Kadoorie family — transformed a simple idea into one of the world’s most important carpet design brands. First established with the objectives of aiding refugees and providing employment for the colony’s burgeoning population following the Second World War, Tai Ping has since embedded itself in both Hong Kong’s business and cultural landscape. Its name meaning ‘peace,’ Tai Ping began with manufacturing Tianjin-style knotted carpets, which quickly gained popularity among admirers of Oriental artistry both in Hong Kong and overseas. The company built its first workshop in 1956, in a two-storey villa in Castle Peak, with only 13 employees. By 1958, the company had received a remarkable commission from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles to construct a carpet so substantial in size that it would need to be made in a 100x50ft tent outside the factory. Workers braved a typhoon day and night to complete the order, and the legend of the ‘Tent Story’ was born. Symbolic of dedication and commitment to a craft, the image of the tent has been incorporated into the Tai Ping’s logo by Tyler Brûlé. The company’s operations are much more extensive and modern today, and Tai Ping’s influence spans far and wide, with a number of notable partnerships under its belt. From Hong Kong’s finest homegrown talents including AB Concept, André Fu and Joyce Wang to highly influential tastemakers such as India Mahdavi, Frank Gehry, and Jean Nouvel, the brand has collaborated with the best of the best in the world of design. Its bespoke rugs and carpets can be found in residential and hospitality properties, as well as private aviation and superyachts. What began as an effort to preserve longstanding traditions proved to be a studio for innovation that has won international acclaim and is now sought after by a discerning global clientele. Tai Ping has since shifted to hand-tufting for its production, based in the company’s artisan workshop in Xiamen. Designed by Sandrolini Architecte, the Parisian agency behind luxury industrial buildings owned by the likes of Louis Vuitton, the state-of-the-art facility ensures unrivalled quality in every step of Tai Ping’s design and manufacturing process. This season sees the launch of a new collection: Atelier by FANG, a visionary collaboration with Shanghai-based fashion designer Fang Yang. Inspired by the ancient art of origami, a signature at Atelier by FANG, the collection draws from the folded fabrics, graphic shapes and sophisticated angles of Fang’s exquisite couture. Marrying the designer’s appreciation for the finest details and elite Tai Ping artisans’ mastery and skills, the luxurious handmade floor coverings in this capsule collection are an unparalleled showcase of artistry and elegance.